Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kardzhali Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kardzhali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $718 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,153 in Kardzhali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,588 in Kardzhali, rent included.

Phuket costs about 76% more than Kardzhali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Kardzhali are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Kardzhali 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$8.61 BGN 14.32

-47.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$26.23 BGN 43.63

77.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$8.98 BGN 14.95

-5.68%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$1.20 BGN 1.99

152.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.85 BGN 1.42

-18.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$1.39 BGN 2.32

-73.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.62 BGN 2.69

53.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.32 BGN 2.20

177.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.80 BGN 2.99

21.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.84 BGN 1.39

126.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.80 BGN 2.99

22.22%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$3.19 BGN 5.30

-30.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$12.44 BGN 20.70

60.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$8.51 BGN 14.15

-56.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$12.92 BGN 21.50

2.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.85 BGN 3.07

74.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.88 BGN 3.13

-9.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$2.03 BGN 3.37

17.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$2.20 BGN 3.66

-5.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.90 BGN 1.50

76.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.04 BGN 1.73

42.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.87 BGN 1.45

18.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.72 BGN 1.19

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$3.90 BGN 6.49

8.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$4.62 BGN 7.69

306.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.06 BGN 1.76

66.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.74 BGN 2.89

58.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.28 BGN 0.46

385.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$8.71 BGN 14.50

30.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$1.09 BGN 1.81

188.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$0.68 BGN 1.13

52.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$14.09 BGN 23.45

-2.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.55 BGN 2.57

-13.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$32.7K BGN 54.3K

-15.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$28.8K BGN 47.9K

17.71%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$124 ฿4,025

$61.2 BGN 102

101.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.52 ฿440

$17.92 BGN 29.81

-24.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$5.95 BGN 9.89

214.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$29.55 BGN 49.17

109.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$14.90 BGN 24.79

15.77%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$9.58 BGN 15.95

-4.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$703 ฿22.9K

$619 BGN 1,031

13.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$9,147 BGN 15.2K

73.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$29.54 BGN 49.14

101.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$17.90 BGN 29.77

95.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$47.04 BGN 78.3

145.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$89.3 BGN 149

-5.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$117 BGN 195

428.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$117 BGN 194

271.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$234 BGN 390

780.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$210 BGN 350

618.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$1,181 BGN 1,964

208.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$887 BGN 1,475

196.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$1,326 BGN 2,207

-61.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

3.1

71.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kardzhali: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $117 in Kardzhali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 162% higher in Kardzhali, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $26.00 in Kardzhali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $239 – making Kardzhali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Phuket vs Kardzhali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 76% more than Kardzhali, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,078 in Kardzhali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kardzhali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $718 in Kardzhali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 30% less in Kardzhali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kardzhali, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Kardzhali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kardzhali costs $718 versus $1,261 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kardzhali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.